Islamic State conflict: Syrian forces 'enter Palmyra'

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: BBC

Syrian government forces have entered the ancient town of Palmyra seized by Islamic State (IS) militants last year, state TV has said.

However, a monitoring group said the fighting was still outside the city, Reuters news agency reports.

Officials launched an offensive to retake the city earlier this month, backed by Russian air strikes.

The city is situated in a strategically important area between Damascus and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35888723

[Surya Gayatri]

1. K & R.

[Eugene]

2. Russia's special forces officer killed in Syria: Interfax

Source: Reuters

World | Thu Mar 24, 2016 4:09pm EDT

Russia's special forces officer killed in Syria: Interfax

MOSCOW

A Russian special forces officer has been killed in a combat operation near Palmyra in Syria, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing a Russian military source in Syria.

"While performing a special task to direct Russian air strikes onto terrorist targets, a Russian special forces officer was killed," Interfax quoted a source at Russia's Khmeimim air base in Syria's Latakia province as saying.

There was no detail about when the officer died, with Interfax citing its source as saying only that he was on a combat mission "in the past week". Syrian government forces are trying to recapture Palmyra from Islamic State.

"The soldier died heroically, calling the strike onto himself after he was discovered and surrounded by terrorists," Interfax cited the source as saying.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-death-idUSKCN0WQ28Z